Extra hours for Christmas shopping

Christmas shoppers in Reading now have more chance to hunt for gifts with the extension of opening hours.

Both The Oracle and the Broad Street Mall are keeping their doors open for longer and offering extra services until Christmas Eve.

The Oracle is now open between 9am and 9pm on weekdays, 9am to 8pm on Saturdays and 11am to 5pm Sundays. And there is little chance of a break with post-Christmas sales starting at 10am on Boxing Day.

Reading and Maidenhead Salvation Army bands will be performing Christmas songs and carols regularly until Christmas. A gift wrap bar is with customers who spend more than £15 in The Oracle able to have their gifts wrapped free of charge. The service is located on the Upper Mall, next to Topshop.

Sam French, marketing communications manager at The Oracle, said: “The extended opening hours at The Oracle this December will help all our customers make the most of their time in the run-up to Christmas.”

Broad Street Mall is now open until 8pm Mondays to Saturdays and between 10am and 5pm Sundays until Christmas Eve when last-minute shoppers have until 4pm to make their final purchases.

Children can visit Santa’s Grotto at the Mall between 10am and 5pm Wednesdays to Saturdays and 11am to 4pm Sundays until Monday, December 19, when visitors are then welcome every day between 10am and 5pm.